Former Louisiana Gov. Charles “Buddy” Roemer solicited donations on Friday to raise $25,000 needed to participate in a GOP debate that will air May 5 on Fox News.

Bill Klotz, the senior volunteer coordinator for the Roemer 2012 exploratory committee, emailed possible Roemer supporters on Friday morning, asking them to help raise the money, which must be paid to South Carolina’s Republican Party.

“At this time I have an urgent task for you,” Klotz wrote in his email. “There is a presidential forum scheduled for May 5th in South Carolina to be aired on Fox News. To be on the ballot in South Carolina and included in the forum, it requires a fee of $25,000. We need your immediate help to raise $25,000.”

Roemer, a former Democrat who became a Republican during his governorship in 1991, has vowed not to accept PAC money and to limit all campaign donations to $100.

Klotz included a link to a letter in his email, asking possible supporters to forward the letter to their personal contacts.

“Use the linked document to introduce Buddy and your role in his campaign to your family, friends and acquaintances. Encourage them to also forward it on and on … Remember that it only takes 250 of your Gmail, Facebook, Twitter contacts that to get us the $25,000 for the May 5th debate,” Klotz said in his email.

Roemer served four terms in the U.S. Congress from 1981-88 as a conservative Democrat who often broke ranks with his party to vote with President Ronald Reagan. He served as Louisiana’s governor from 1988-92.